NL Central

NL West

Now Commenting On:

Nationals sign 22 from 2010 Draft class

Nationals sign 22 from 2010 Draft class

Email

Print

By Spencer Fordin
/
MLB.com |

The Nationals got started on an essential task on Monday, when they announced signing 22 of their prospects selected in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. The haul includes fifth-round Draft pick Jason Martinson and three other players picked in the top 10 rounds, but Washington is still trying to sign top overall pick Bryce Harper and six of its top eight picks.

Martinson, a shortstop out of Texas State University, was the highest-profile prospect to sign. Washington also signed sixth-round pick Cole Leonida, a catcher out of Georgia Tech, and right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett (ninth round) out of University of Mississippi. Blake Kelso (10th round), a shortstop out of University of Houston, also joined the fold.

All of the players signed on Monday attended a junior college or university. That list includes Neil Holland (10th round) from University of Louisville and Christopher McKenzie (13th round) and Mark Herrera (16th round) out of San Jacinto College North. Seventeenth-round Draft pick Tyler Hanks, Harper's teammate at the College of Southern Nevada, also signed Monday.

Sixteen of the 22 players who signed were selected on the second day of the Draft, including catcher David Freitas (15th round). Washington also announced signing five players -- shortstop Tim Dupuis and pitchers Mike Gallo, Zach Gerler and Ben Graham -- as undrafted free agents. Washington has until August 16 to reach terms with the rest of its Draft class.

Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.